ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell gymnastics honored its seven seniors by posting the team's fifth straight score of 190.000 or better to open a season for the first time in program history, finishing second among four teams at the Big Red Goes Pink Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Teagle Gymnasium.
The Big Red's score of 191.225 was just off Air Force's winning team score of 191.525. Three Cornell gymnasts posted event-winning scores, but Air Force's balance throughout the lineup allowed the Falcons to take the meet victory, as the Big Red was forced to count a number of falls.
Freshman
Kaitlin Green was again sensational on beam with a 9.850 to lead a 1-2-3 Cornell sweep of the event.
Joy Gage was second (9.775) and
Malia Mackey tied for third (9.750). Gage also collected a second on floor (9.775), behind only teammate
Lyanda Dudley (9.825), a mark that ranks the freshman eighth on the school's all-time list.
Elana Molotsky took first on bars (9.775), a point ahead of teammate and event runner-up Dudley (9.675) for the third event win for the team. Dudley also had a third place finish on vault with a 9.575.
Cornell had the meet's highest team score on bars (47.950) and floor (48.625), but only counted one score above a 9.5 on vault.
The Big Red will visit Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. in a quad meet that will also feature No. 4 Alabama and No. 12 Denver.